Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-05
AUDUBON AUDUBON CO. IOWA THURSDAY, MAY


be famous flax spinner. Folks used
to get me to spin their fine thread.
But as / was saying, Squire Bassett's
folks had everything that was nice,
but that don't hinder trouble from
coming. and they had their share, for
out OF four beautiful children, only
one son lived to grow up, and they
just worshiped him Thomas, or Tom
Bassett, as he was called, was as nice
a young man as there was in Chester,
and he was as handsome as picture,
with his black hair and eyes. He was
tall and road-shouldered and stood
square on his feet as man ought to.
Squire Bassett and his wife had de.
cided that Nancy Holmes was just the
one for Tom to marry. She belonged
to the family and had money; so ever
since Fancy came to live with them,
they had been trying to make a match
between them, and Nancy was willing
enough, but they all knew Toms heart
was set on Ruth Davis, and had been
ever since they were children together.
But Ruth was poor girl. Her father
was a shoemaker, and they lived in a
little house with only three rooms,
and Ruth had to 20 out spinning, and
II she was rs pretty rs q pink, and as
good as she was pretty, they thought
she was no match for Squire Bassett's
son.
when the sleighride was talked OF
wn all wondered which Tom would
take, Nancy or Ruth, but we soon
found out he was going with Nancy.
presume his folks made such fuss
he couldn't help it. Ruth was going
with 10 Green who was as much in
love with her as Tom was. We al
ways called them the rivals.
''There couldn't have been better
time for sleighride than that after
noon we started for Morse's tavern.
There had not any snow fallen for
some time and the road was trodden
down as smooth and hard as q floor.
There were twenty couples OF us. Tom
Bassett with his span of handsome
black horses with Nancy tucked into
the sleigh beside him took the lead.
owe just SKINNED over the snow and
just as it began to grow dark we came
in sight OF Morse's tavern. 1t was q
low, rambling, old building, with
broad piazza across the front. The
ruddy glow of the fires shone cheeriy
through the windows making it n pleas.
ant sight after ride of ten miles.
"We had just time to take off our
wraps and get warm before the fire
that was swapping and caring up the
great old chimney when We were called
to supper. And such a supper. Folks
knew how to cook IN those days.
BY the time we had finished
supper they had got the hall
lighted and the musicians were
tuning their violins. 1t wasn't much
OF a hall, at least You would not think
so. and it was lighted with tallow can
dies and the music was only two vio-
Inns, but we had just as good n time as
the young folks do now with great
halls lighted with gas, and bands Of
music.
I'VE danced contra dances and reels
till ten o'clock, when it was time to go
home. had noticed all the evening
that Ruth did not take notice OF Tom
Bassett. She seemed all taken mp with
10 Green. This vexed Tom, for usual
ly Ruth didn't seem to care for any
one but him. saw him looking at
Ruth and 10 and his eyes fairly blazed.
while we girls were putting on our
things the young men went for the
horses. Nancy, Ruth and got ready
first and stepped out on to hepiazza.
The moon was shining as bright as
day. -..-.-.....--
40 is going to be first going home, !"
said Ruth, as she walked towards the
steps, and as she spoke Isaw 10 Green
driving up to the door, but before he
got there Tom Bassett dashed past
HIM, drove upto the steps, and quick
err than | can tell you was out of the
sleigh, caught Ruth up, put her in his
sleigh and was off like flash. 1t was
done so quickly we hardly realized it,,
until he was out OF sight. Nancy was
the first to speak.
"Well, said she, he has Jun of
with Ruth Davis. should think it
was q nice way to treat me. When |
90 anywhere with Tom Bassett again
he will know it,
Nancy never had an opportunity
to go with him again. Instead of 60
ing to Chester Tom drove to Parson
Browns who lived about four miles
from the tavern, and was married to
Ruth that night.
Ruth told me afterwards about it.
She said she couldn't help being mar.
ried. Tom said he had seen 10 Green
going around with her as long as he
was going to, and drove right to the
minister's house. He had gone to bed,
but Tom soon had him up and had
the knot tel.
Il must say the squire and his wife
behaved we'll. OF course they were
very mucf disapl ointed, but they
took Ruth right home to the big house,
and when came away from Chester
they We're all living together as happy
rs could be. Nancy married 10 Green
very soon after Tom was married,
and went to Boston to live. There
have told you all about our, sleigh
| ride"
1T was very nice story, the hest
you ever told me. Tom Bassett was
quite q Young Lochinvar,' said Hell.
Ell.
Mrs. Harris had never read Sir Wal.
ter Scott's ballad OF "Lochinvar," SO
Helen repeated it to her. and by that
time tine mlttens were finished, and
Helen was soon on her way home,
thinking as she walked over the crisp
snow that the young men fifty years
| ago were more daring in love" than
they are at the present time.